I’m curious how others feel, because I’m terribly curious about who the VP noms are going to be. I’m no fan of McCain, but if he picks Mitt Romney as his VP - an idea that has been floated several times - I’d vote for him in a heartbeat. I voted for Romney in the primaries, so I’d love to see him that close to the presidency. I know there are others who really dislike Romney and would rather McCain pick someone else like Huckabee or even Ron Paul.
On the other side of the aisle, who do you want in a VP? Could Obama pick anyone that would guarantee you’d vote for him, or keep you from voting for him? Somehow I can see Clinton being an answer either way…
Or do most voters not care?
Yes. If Hillary is only a heartbeat away, I’m wasting my vote this year.
If I were American and Hilary were VP, I’d think extra long and extra hard before voting for Obama. On the Republican side, who McCain picks is especially important due to his age.
People should care. Even leaving aside the issue of a vice president becoming president, the choice is a major indicator of a candidate’s decision making.
Which is part of my keen interest in who he’ll pick. I don’t see McCain being a two-term kind of guy if he’s elected.
I agree. One of the president’s main duties is picking people for things: nominating people to the Supreme Court, choosing Cabinet members, etc.
There have conceivably been elections in which the choice of VP would make a difference in who I would vote for. This is not one of them. Yes, the choice of VP conceivably sends a message or two about the President’s decision-making process or whatever, and yes potential Supreme Court Nominees, etc. may be important, . . . but at the end of the day, I want a Democrat in the White House, and I’m not too fussy about which one.
It matters to me. Being a vice-president influences chances for a future presidency and is a fairly public figure on their own.
As far as Obama is concerned, I can’t think of anyone short of Lieberman or – crap, I can’t think of the name of the crazy guy who is always having kids hand out anti-Bush literature at subway stations and such – who would cause me not to vote for him. But I do care in the sense that I’d like to see him choose someone who has strengths where he is weaker.
I don’t plan to vote for McCain, but the same general rules would apply to him.
ETA: I knew I’d think of his name as soon as I posted: Lyndon LaRouche
Normally I don’t care all that much but with MCcains age it is a factor for me. If he picks some right wing nutjob I will still consider Obama.